Long-wavelength chloride-sensitive fluorescent indicators

Anal Biochem. 1994 May 15;219(1):139-43. doi: 10.1006/abio.1994.1242.

Abstract

The goal of this study was to develop long-wavelength fluorescent Cl indicators that have improved optical properties over quinolinium compounds. A series of quaternized tricyclic heterocycles was screened. We found that N,N-dimethyl-9,9-bisacridinium (lucigenin) had very high halide sensitivity with Stern-Volmer constants for collisional quenching of 390 M-1 (Cl), 585 M-1 (Br), 750 M-1 (I), and 590 M-1 (SCN), much higher than those for the reference compound 6-methoxy-N-(3-sulfopropyl)quinolinium (SPQ) (118 M-1 (Cl)); lucigenin fluorescence was insensitive to phosphate, sulfate, and nitrate. Lucigenin fluorescence at 505 nm was excited with molar absorbances of 34,000 M-1 cm-1 (368 nm) and 7500 M-1 cm-1 (455 nm). To examine structure-activity relationships, five 9-substituted N-methylacridinium compounds were synthesized (9-amino, 9-carboxaldehyde, 9-carboxamide, 9-N,N-dimethylcarboxamide, and 9-methylcarboxylate), of which N-methylacridinium-9-carboxamide (MACA) had the best optical properties. MACA had excitation and emission maxima at 424 and 500 nm, and Stern-Volmer constants of 225 M-1 (Cl), 480 M-1 (Br), 550 M-1 (I), and 480 M-1 (SCN). The quantum yields of lucigenin and MACA were 0.6-0.7. The acridinium compounds are useful as Cl indicators in liposomes and membrane vesicles, but are not stable in cell cytoplasm.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • 3T3 Cells
  • Acridines*
  • Animals
  • Chlorides*
  • Fluorescent Dyes*
  • Indicators and Reagents
  • Mice
  • Spectrometry, Fluorescence / methods*
  • Spectrophotometry / methods
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Acridines
  • Chlorides
  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • Indicators and Reagents
  • 10,10'-dimethyl-9,9'-biacridinium